THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Danville District 118 interim superintendent John Hart works at a stand up desk in his office.
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DANVILLE — What started as a “whirlwind” for Danville interim Superintendent John Hart has been downgraded to something a little more manageable.
“Now,” Hart says, “it’s just a strong breeze.”
The 10-year assistant superintendent needed to get acclimated quickly to his new role — overseeing a district with 5,000-plus students and around 850 employees — after his former boss was placed on administrative leave last month by the Danville school board.
A separation agreement is in the process of being finalized with Alicia Geddis, who’d been working remotely since October due to what the superintendent said were threats to her safety.
Her short-term successor is a Westville High School graduate who moved back into his family home after his father died about seven years ago.
Even before beginning his career in education — Hart spent 14 years working in the former Heatcraft Refrigeration Products factory — he said he knew he’d one day end up in District 118.
“I really don’t know why,” Hart said. “It was just bigger, more
diverse. And I loved it.”
He also knew he wanted to be involved in special education, in part because he roots for the underdog.
Sometimes it takes special accommodations but “kids can be whatever they want,” said Hart, who student-taught at Garfield Elementary with Mary Hardy and Danville High with Jan Mason.
On his first day at Danville High, Hart remembers thinking: What have I gotten myself into? But by the time he reported to school the next day, it felt like where he belonged, specifically in special education.
He spent his first year teaching at Douglas School in 2001. From there, Hart taught five years at Southwest, served as a special-education coordinator, then Southwest principal, director of special education and assistant superintendent — first over elementary schools, then for the entire district when the other assistant retired.
Hart’s favorite subject in school: art. Favorite educator: Joan Foyer, who taught math at Westville High.
“She was one tough cookie, and she would not let you fail,” he said.
‘Celebrate the successes’
As interim superintendent, the 24-year district employee runs meetings on Mondays, when the eight administrators get together to discuss actionable school improvement plans and which of them will be visiting a school that Thursday.
“The teachers like to see us, and we like to see the teachers,” Hart said.
The in-school visits are “probably one of my favorite parts of the job,” he added. “I love working with curriculum and just the direct impact on students, and we’ve worked really hard to support the teachers.”
Hart said he hasn’t spoken to Geddis since she was placed on leave. Prior to that, when she was working remotely, Hart said he would call her about any issues that arose and keep her in the loop about what was going on in the district.
Despite the administrative shakeup, Hart described the 2024-25 school year as a productive one.
“We have our challenges, but we have our successes as well,” he said. “We’re really trying to celebrate the successes and address the challenges, not ignore them, and take a more hands-on approach to anything that’s going on in the district and really try to address it before it becomes a big problem.”
Hart said he returns calls to anyone who rings, with a goal of getting back within 24 hours. Lately, it’s gotten to be a 36-hour turnaround at times, but he said he wants parents to continue advocating for their kids, and appreciates their correspondence.
Among the biggest challenges at the moment is the implementation of Illinois State Board of Education initiatives around career and technical education, starting with younger grade levels.
Another state initiative — limiting cellphone use in schools — is one the district is ahead of the game on, having already discussed the pros and cons and surveyed parents.
An updated policy is under consideration at Danville High, where parents have expressed a desire to be able to reach their students throughout the day. The ban, Hart said, could only apply to classrooms, with students free to use their phones between periods and at other times.
“I see the distraction, but I can see the positive side as well,” Hart said.
As the school year winds down, there has been promising news: Hart said there will be few retirements after this school year, hiring has gone well and the district’s buildings are in top shape, especially with the additions to Northeast Elementary Magnet School and Kenneth D. Bailey Academy.
Hart is eager to highlight the success stories during his speaking engagement at the high school’s graduation in May.
“I feel like morale is at an all-time high,” he said. “I really feel like there’s motivation to move forward, to really look at what’s happening in classrooms in schools, and not necessarily change a lot of things, (but) with more tweaks and refine.
“I do feel like there’s movement in a positive direction.”
‘Kind of torn’
Away from work, Hart enjoys true-crime books, the outdoors, hiking, visiting parks and spending quality time with his four “awesome” grandkids.
“I love spending time with them,” he said. They’re involved in archery, soccer and softball, and “occupy my spare time.”
Hart and wife Sandy, a nurse at Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care System, have three children — Josh, Alec and Rayn — living close by, in Westville and Georgetown.
Being an interim superintendent was never part of the long-term career plan, but while he has the job, Hart wants to keep the district steady while looking at ways to improve.
Conversations are ongoing regarding adding an assistant superintendent, as well as posting the district’s top job and starting the search process.
There was no time frame put on Hart’s interim position. That could come in the weeks ahead, with a new school board set to be seated following the April 1 election.
Hart said he hasn’t given much thought to whether he’ll seek the permanent job. If he were earlier in his career, he said, he might.
“I don’t really know. I’m really kind of torn at this point,” he said. “I love the job that I have. No decision yet, I guess.”
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